Jin-Woo’s ears deceived him. He had to question what he was hearing. The vice president of South Korea’s top guild and a top-tier Hunter in her own right, Cha Hae-In, was saying she would join a guild that hadn’t even taken its first proper steps? Unless she’d been coerced, this didn’t make a lick of sense. But.
‘Who could possibly coerce that woman?’
Jin-Woo mentally listed the only people in Korea with the power to do so.
“Is this the Association President’s directive?”
Cha Hae-In looked completely perplexed by the sudden mention of the Association President.
“Why would he…?”
It was ironic that the very person causing the misunderstanding now wore such an expression.
‘No, calm down.’
This was certainly shocking news and a situation that could spark excitement, but Jin-Woo calmly pulled out a chair and sat opposite Cha Hae-In. Then he simply gazed at her. In a short burst of focus, as time seemed to slow, information about her flooded his mind.
‘She’s agitated.’
Her pulse, her breathing, her gaze. Cha Hae-In was trying to appear calm, but she couldn’t fool Jin-Woo’s high perception stat. But what could possibly drive her to go to such lengths to join the so-called “Solo” guild?
Jin-Woo spoke.
“You still have time left on your contract with Hunters Guild, don’t you?”
Guild contracts with Hunters typically ran for five-year terms. Cha Hae-In had joined Hunters Guild two years ago upon her S-rank designation. Assuming the minimum, she still had three years remaining.
“I have the money for the penalty clause.”
At her calm reply, Jin-Woo tilted his head. The penalty was usually two to three times the initial signing bonus. Considering the astronomical signing bonus Hunters must have paid to secure an S-rank Hunter, the penalty would be equally staggering. Before getting into practicalities, Jin-Woo’s voice turned businesslike.
“Our ‘Solo’ guild can’t offer a signing bonus matching your level, Hunter Cha.” “S-Solo is the guild name?” “Is there a problem with a name my vice president and I agreed on?” “…No.”
Cha Hae-In let out a sigh as light as a small bird’s breath and continued.
“That’s fine. I don’t need a signing bonus.”
Paying an enormous penalty to leave Hunters while also agreeing to join without a signing bonus?
‘What’s her game?’
Jin-Woo’s eyes narrowed. As their gazes met for longer, Cha Hae-In couldn’t hold it and looked away. Her heartbeat grew even faster. Jin-Woo’s keen hearing didn’t miss the change.
‘Is she hiding something?’
At this point, Jin-Woo couldn’t help but ask.
“What’s the reason you’re going to such lengths to join our guild?” “….”
As expected. Cha Hae-In clamped her mouth shut, unable to answer easily. Moreover, her reddening face made it clear she was definitely hiding something.
‘Wait a moment…’
Come to think of it, he’d noticed something different about her at the funeral too. He didn’t know her thoughts, but perhaps her plan had been in motion for quite some time. Jin-Woo quietly awaited her answer. But she kept her head lowered in silence for a long while. How could she explain it? That even when she’d been rendered unconscious by the ant monster, she could feel his presence beside her? That as she sank endlessly into a black void, the mere scent of him brought indescribable comfort? There were no words in this world to describe that feeling.
‘Even if I tried to explain, I’d just sound crazy.’
Later, when she learned it was really Sung Jin-Woo there, she was thrilled. She felt genuine relief knowing it hadn’t been just her imagination. And.
‘If…’
If the day ever came when death was absolutely unavoidable, she found herself wishing he would be by her side.
‘Wishing he’d stay with me until the very end.’
How could she even utter such an embarrassing sentiment, one that brought a flush to her cheeks just thinking about it? For Cha Hae-In, far from girlish sensibilities, it was impossible. So she gave the answer she had prepared.
“To be comfortable.”
She looked up, meeting Jin-Woo’s eyes as she continued.
“To live comfortably….”
Though slightly off the mark, it wasn’t a complete lie. While the stench of other top Hunters made it hard to even turn her head, Jin-Woo’s mere presence in the same space put her at ease. The word “comfortable” she used held that meaning. Though Jin-Woo interpreted it differently, he understood. After hearing her answer, he nodded. She wanted to leave a massive guild like Hunters and continue her work “comfortably” in a smaller one. As far as Jin-Woo knew, Cha Hae-In was twenty-two or twenty-three.
‘The burden of being an S-rank Hunter must weigh heavily on the shoulders of a young woman in her early twenties.’
Especially after facing a life-threatening situation like the one on Jeju Island. Having countless times felt the urge to abandon everything and flee during his Association days, Jin-Woo fully understood her feelings. However.
‘Her circumstances are understandable, but…’
He couldn’t just accept her. This was why he’d wanted to name the guild “Solo.” He planned to clear all the dungeons reserved under the guild’s name by himself. If the minimum personnel requirement became an issue, he intended to find stand-ins just to meet the headcount, like when he ran C-rank dungeons with Yoo Jin-Ho. That was the wisest method for leveling up. But if Cha Hae-In joined, it would cause various complications. Setting aside the signing bonus, she would still need a salary to live on. He would be committing a national-level waste by paying a fortune to employ an S-rank Hunter he had no particular need for and then not even giving her proper work. Yet.
‘Rejecting an S-rank Hunter who’s willing to give up a signing bonus to join seems suspicious.’
So Jin-Woo offered a brilliant solution.
“Actually, our guild has an entry test.” “What? The recruitment posting didn’t mention anything….”
Cha Hae-In sounded flustered, but Jin-Woo cut her off.
“It’s a recently established rule. Our vice president must have made a mistake.”
At the mention of a test, Cha Hae-In’s gaze turned serious.
“What kind of test is it?”
Jin-Woo was inwardly surprised.
‘Is she serious?’
He’d thought she’d quit out of pride if told she had to take a test. But Cha Hae-In was the opposite. If anything, her competitive spirit burned brighter. He could feel the hidden enthusiasm behind her blank expression.
‘The type who never backs down from a challenge?’
Or was it just stubbornness? Either way, now that things had come to this, Jin-Woo couldn’t just say he was joking and back out.
“You must defeat the summon I designate.”
*Crrrk.* He heard the sound of her pride cracking.
“….”
Is my value really only that much, Hunter Sung Jin-Woo? It was strange. Their eyes met, and it felt like her voice carried vividly to him. But Cha Hae-In showed nothing and asked calmly as always.
“Which summon will you designate?” “For you, Hunter Cha, I’ll make a special exception and choose the strongest one.” “…Fine.”
She didn’t back down. She probably never imagined what new addition had been made to Jin-Woo’s summon collection, or rather, his Shadow Army. Being the competitive type, she would withdraw gracefully if she lost. Relying on that judgment, Jin-Woo accepted the challenge.
“Very well.” “When is the test?” “Now.”
For Jin-Woo, who needed to establish his guild quickly, wasting time on Cha Hae-In wasn’t an option. On the spur of the moment, right then. The venue was the Hunter’s Association gym. S-rank Hunters had the privilege of using the Association’s facilities freely. It was just one of the many perks enjoyed by S-rank Hunters.
“Understood.”
Cha Hae-In nodded. A swift progression was what she also wanted. As if by prior agreement, both stood up simultaneously.
‘Wait.’
A thought flashed through Jin-Woo’s mind. He called out to Cha Hae-In, who had grabbed the handle to leave the meeting room.
“Hunter Cha, one moment.” “Yes?” “There’s no need to go there.” “…?”
Cha Hae-In wore a baffled expression. There was only one door to the meeting room. Surely he wasn’t suggesting they jump out the window. As she stopped, Jin-Woo approached her.
“There’s an easy way to get there.” “Yes?” “You’ll need to stay close for that. Is that alright?” “Ah….”
Cha Hae-In recalled what Baek Yoon-Ho had told her about that situation. How Hunter Sung Jin-Woo had suddenly appeared from behind during the Korean team’s moment of dire peril.
‘Is he going to show me that?’
Looking up at Jin-Woo’s face, now closer than she had anticipated, she swallowed dryly.
“Pardon.”
Jin-Woo gave her a light hug. In the ant cave, he’d carried her unconscious body around; this light hug was nothing. Jin-Woo didn’t think much of it, but Cha Hae-In’s face turned scarlet instantly. However, she didn’t struggle or try to push him away.
‘…He smells nice.’
While she blushed, Jin-Woo held her carefully to keep her from falling and finished his mental preparation.
‘Alright.’
There was something he wanted to check. A better opportunity probably wouldn’t come soon.
“You might feel dizzy.”
Because I did. Cha Hae-In then wrapped her arms around his waist and whispered her reply.
“Yes.”
Jin-Woo raised his head to look straight ahead and silently recited.
‘Shadow Exchange.’
*Swoosh.* The two were silently sucked into the shadows on the floor. Just then, Yoo Jin-Ho, thinking the conversation was taking too long, ran to the convenience store to buy snacks and entered the meeting room.
“Have some of this while you talk.”
A Hi-Orc soldier, meeting Yoo Jin-Ho’s eyes, scratched the back of his head, perhaps feeling awkward.
“….”
*Clatter!* The tray he held slipped from his hands, and the cups of beverage shattered.
“W-what?!”
Yoo Jin-Ho, terrified, squeezed his eyes shut and opened them again. The Hi-Orc soldier had vanished completely.
‘I definitely saw him…!’
He rubbed both eyes, shook his head, and looked around again, but couldn’t find any trace of the magical beast.
‘Have I not been getting enough rest lately?’
Imagining things. Yoo Jin-Ho tilted his head, searched the room, and turned to find a rag to wipe the floor. But then, a thought struck him, and his feet stopped on their own.
“Where did hyung-nim and Hunter Cha Hae-In go?”